John Trapp on Proverbs 8:4

Verſ. 4. Unto you, O men, I call] O viri praeſtantes (ſo ſome render it) O yee eminent men, whether for greatneſs of birth wealth, or learning. The Phariſees and Philoſophers for their learning are called the Princes of this world, 1 Cor. 2.8. Sed ſapientes ſapienter in infernum deſcendunt, ſaith one, & potentes potenter t[illegible: 1 letter]rquebuntur, ſaith another. But the world by wiſdome knows not God, 1 Cor. 1.21. and not many wiſe men, not many mighty, not many noble are called, verſ. 26. And yet they ſhall not want for calling, if that would do it; for unto you, O mighty men I call. Sed ſurdo plerunque fabulam, but all to little purpoſe, for moſt part. They that lay their heads upon down-pillows cannot ſo eaſily hear noyſes. Courts and great places prove ill air for Zeal. Divitibus ideo pietas deeſt, quia nihil deeſt. Rich mens wealth proves an hindrance to their happineſs.

And my voyce is to the Sons of men] i. e. To the meaner ſort of people. See Pſal. 49.2. Theſe uſually, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. like little fiſhes, bite more than bigger. The poor are Gospellized, ſaith our Saviour. Smyrna was the pooreſt, but beſt of the ſeven Churches. Certain it is, that many of the meaner ſort hold that they are not bound to look after Scripture-matters, but that it is for rich men and Scholars onely to do ſo. Wee have nothing, ſay they, to live by, but theſe hands. How can day-labourers, [non-Latin text not transcribed]; Chryſoſt. Hom. 22. ad Pop. Antioch. and poor Craftſmen intend ſuch things? The baſer ſort of people in Swethland do alwayes break the Sabbath, ſaying, that it is only for Gentlemen to keep that day. See Jer. 5.4. Joh. 7.49. But Paul (a poor Tent-maker) could ſay, Our converſation is in heaven, and Gods people are afflicted and poor, yet they truſt in the Name of the Lord, Zeph. 3.12. Who ever richer than Adam in Paradiſe? Poorer than Job on the dunghill? yet in Paradiſe Satan foiled Adam, on the dunghil Job foiled Satan. Think not that poverty can excuſe from duty: Poor men alſo muſt liſten to wiſdomes voyce, or it will bee worſe with them; there is yet but a beginning of their ſorrows.